Ferdinand Porche recently died. When he went to heaven, God greeted him at the gates and took him into heaven and greeted him. The first thing he did was take FP to his new house - a nice bungalow with a beautiful silver Porsche 959 in the driveway. The good doctor was so excited he asked God if they could take a drive around with it. God said sure. They drove around and before long, they came to a large Italian villa with a Ferrari flag on the roof and an F40 sitting shining in the driveway.

Dr. Porsche was suddenly deflated and he turned to God and said, "God. I have been a good person. I have helped to build my family's company, built great sports cars and won many championships. Why does Enzo Ferrari have a house so much nicer than mine?"

God looked at him and said," That's not Enzo Ferrari's house. That's mine."

Could you "Europeanize" your car? The Euro seats are so much more "racecar" and also, the black bumper bits make the exterior a lil' messy.

I disagree that the euro car looks better. the black bumpers are really well done and provide the right accents. To each his own, though.

Regarding the seats, I have been in both seats and as cool as the euro seats look, they're not a comfortable and the harness belts are a PITA. That said, my car can accept those and has the eyelets for the harness anchors.

Fun fact, the US cars have at least 22hp more than the euro cars in order to offset the extra 120lbs or so. They are all rated at "500 hp and above."

When I see the F40, and I see what an icon it has become, I can't help but wonder why Ferrari essentially abandoned turbochargers after it.

I realize that there is nothing quite like the shriek of an 458 Italia at 9,000 RPMS, but imagine if the F50 or enzo had turbocharged V8's putting down ridiculous numbers.

It's almost like Ferrari is overthinking it with the F70 -- with a hybrid power plant. Why not just Turbocharge the Ferrari FF Engine? I realize that Hybrid exotics are the new thing, but still. Why did Ferrari drop the turbocharger?

When I see the F40, and I see what an icon it has become, I can't help but wonder why Ferrari essentially abandoned turbochargers after it.

I realize that there is nothing quite like the shriek of an 458 Italia at 9,000 RPMS, but imagine if the F50 or enzo had turbocharged V8's putting down ridiculous numbers.

It's almost like Ferrari is overthinking it with the F70 -- with a hybrid power plant. Why not just Turbocharge the Ferrari FF Engine? I realize that Hybrid exotics are the new thing, but still. Why did Ferrari drop the turbocharger?

Just a guess (I really have no clue), but the F40 came out around the time that turbochargers were banned from F1. Assuming that Ferrari's F1 tech trickles down into their production cars, that would explain the move away from forced induction, and to low displacement, high revving N/A motors.

Just a guess (I really have no clue), but the F40 came out around the time that turbochargers were banned from F1. Assuming that Ferrari's F1 tech trickles down into their production cars, that would explain the move away from forced induction, and to low displacement, high revving N/A motors.

When I see the F40, and I see what an icon it has become, I can't help but wonder why Ferrari essentially abandoned turbochargers after it.

I realize that there is nothing quite like the shriek of an 458 Italia at 9,000 RPMS, but imagine if the F50 or enzo had turbocharged V8's putting down ridiculous numbers.

It's almost like Ferrari is overthinking it with the F70 -- with a hybrid power plant. Why not just Turbocharge the Ferrari FF Engine? I realize that Hybrid exotics are the new thing, but still. Why did Ferrari drop the turbocharger?

I think a lot of reasons, none of which I really agree with though.

First, turbocharging went out of F1 in the 80's when this was done and Ferrari dropped out of Group B rally (non started really) where turbocharging the 3 liter v8 was the thing. Secondly, the F40 sounds very un-Ferrari. It's a beast and I love it but it sounds nothing like a screaming v-12 that Ferrari is known for. Thirdly, due to the severe boost it is a very difficult car to drive well or fast. I think that it is too scary for many of the people who can afford them (now and when new). If I didn't have a background (small as it is) in motorsports racing I highly doubt I would like driving this as much as I do. Lastly, nostalgia. Ferrari made a big deal out of it's history with the v12 and it didn't seem right to make a flagship out of anything but a v12.

They really put everything to use when they made the F40, which is why it has been unrivaled since for feel or thrill and in many ways, outright violent performance. Yeah, I know the Enzo is faster and the 458 and stuff are too but I have driven the 458 really fast and as capable and incredible as it is, it does little for me in the way of excitement. I could reel off a list of modern fast sports cars that would read like an all star list that I feel the same way about.

I agree with the sentiments on the F70, too. Make a lighter car with less power, not more gadgets and KERS. However, what you have to remember is that they don't use these limited cars as exercises to please you or me, they use them as a way to showcase the world what they can do and what technology they have. It's more of a showcase.

10 years after it's release, I am only now starting to warm up the Enzo. No other car on the planet comes close to the F40 for me but for a long time I thought the Enzo was so dumb. Now it's starting to grow on me a little and I think it's sort of cool.

no; turbo 6es (if they ultimately end up in the cars at all) are just a patch/bridge, to when F1 cars are hybrid. why else would ferrari invest their halo into it? ***my ironic speculation; no actual f1 expertise is referenced or implied.***

as far ferrari and turbos, you know they'd be pushing veyron numbers by now if forced. but considering the weight/safety/tire/testing issues with that car, it doesn't exactly scream Brand Ferrari. not like the ff does, anyway.

the F40 is/was a car of its time. a really harmonious exploitation of the best of what was around.

However, what you have to remember is that they don't use these limited cars as exercises to please you or me, they use them as a way to showcase the world what they can do and what technology they have. It's more of a showcase.

I've been getting some pm's about the new F70 or whatever and whether I'm getting one.

First, I don't like having the latest and greatest of anything and I'm not really interested. As I said before, I am only now starting to warm up to the Enzo. Maybe I'm getting old. When the F40 came out, I fell in love. When the 348 came out, I fell in love, when the 355 came out, I fell in love. When the 360 came out, not so much, 430 little more but not so much, 458, better but not so much. Everything from the Boxer to the 355 was amazing, since then, I just don't like them as much and really don't feel any need to have to have the latest and greatest. So, the cars Ferrari makes now are really awesome but not quite my style or taste like some of their older stuff. I'm sure it will be an awesome car and I will love to see it but won't have any desire to own it.

Second, there is no way I can afford to spend the money on one, which will probably be $1.3mm or so.

Third, none of this matters one bit because even if I loved them and had all the cash to buy it and I wanted one more than anything in the world, I am not high enough on Ferrari's food chain for them to sell it to me.

I've been getting some pm's about the new F70 or whatever and whether I'm getting one.

First, I don't like having the latest and greatest of anything and I'm not really interested. As I said before, I am only now starting to warm up to the Enzo. Maybe I'm getting old. When the F40 came out, I fell in love. When the 348 came out, I fell in love, when the 355 came out, I fell in love. When the 360 came out, not so much, 430 little more but not so much, 458, better but not so much. Everything from the Boxer to the 355 was amazing, since then, I just don't like them as much and really don't feel any need to have to have the latest and greatest. So, the cars Ferrari makes now are really awesome but not quite my style or taste like some of their older stuff. I'm sure it will be an awesome car and I will love to see it but won't have any desire to own it.

Second, there is no way I can afford to spend the money on one, which will probably be $1.3mm or so.

Third, none of this matters one bit because even if I loved them and had all the cash to buy it and I wanted one more than anything in the world, I am not high enough on Ferrari's food chain for them to sell it to me.

I like a lot of them but not all. I like the 308 GT4, Mondial 3.2, 456M, and the FF.

I did drive a 612 the other day and it was okay but I was a little disappointed with what it is for the money. The right one, with the right color combo at the right price would be pretty great though.

I was in an FF the other day and it's extraordinarily well done and has really grown on me. The back seats are real seats and there is room for all sorts of things. I have a feeling in about 10 years they will be pretty great buys.

I like a lot of them but not all. I like the 308 GT4, Mondial 3.2, 456M, and the FF.

I did drive a 612 the other day and it was okay but I was a little disappointed with what it is for the money. The right one, with the right color combo at the right price would be pretty great though.

I was in an FF the other day and it's extraordinarily well done and has really grown on me. The back seats are real seats and there is room for all sorts of things. I have a feeling in about 10 years they will be pretty great buys.

456M seems to be a timeless design...

the 2+2s are probably some of the "best buys" as they are generally the most expensive models (aside from the supercars; F40, F50, Enzo, etc.) when new...seems that most folks don't prefer them, so they depreciate like a some-b****

612s can already be had for $100-120 with pretty low miles, and you could get a clean 456M (under 10K miles) for $75K.

the 2+2s are probably some of the "best buys" as they are generally the most expensive models (aside from the supercars; F40, F50, Enzo, etc.) when new...seems that most folks don't prefer them, so they depreciate like a some-b****

612s can already be had for $100-120 with pretty low miles, and you could get a clean 456M (under 10K miles) for $75K.

BTW, thanks for sharing your pics and info!

The best buy in the whole Ferrari world is the 550 Maranello. That is an amazing car and a great one is $70k. It's an amazing GT with real Ferrari feel. The 456, it's 2+2 twin is really more like $60k for a very good one. Scagliettis are still over $100k and for some reason I don't think they're as great as the others. 599's will be $130k in 3 years. It does sort of make you chuckle as the 2+2's are the spendiest of the new cars. Hell, I rarely see a new FF for less than $385k. That is serious money.

The best buy in the whole Ferrari world is the 550 Maranello. That is an amazing car and a great one is $70k. It's an amazing GT with real Ferrari feel. The 456, it's 2+2 twin is really more like $60k for a very good one. Scagliettis are still over $100k and for some reason I don't think they're as great as the others. 599's will be $130k in 3 years. It does sort of make you chuckle as the 2+2's are the spendiest of the new cars. Hell, I rarely see a new FF for less than $385k. That is serious money.

The best buy in the whole Ferrari world is the 550 Maranello. That is an amazing car and a great one is $70k. It's an amazing GT with real Ferrari feel. The 456, it's 2+2 twin is really more like $60k for a very good one. Scagliettis are still over $100k and for some reason I don't think they're as great as the others. 599's will be $130k in 3 years. It does sort of make you chuckle as the 2+2's are the spendiest of the new cars. Hell, I rarely see a new FF for less than $385k. That is serious money.

I never warmed up to the looks of the 456. But the 550...that's a true GT in the old school Ferrari tradition. Love it. And they aren't terrible to buy these days. Now maintaining it is another matter, of course...